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XenServer

Xen-based server virtualization platform, formerly Citrix Hypervisor, sold alongside Citrix subscriptions.

PaidSelf-hostablePrivate cloud and server virtualization platforms

Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Self-hosted, Windows

Visit XenServerSee 5 alternatives

Is XenServer free?

No, it's a paid product

Free trial:
90 days, up to 3 hosts

Checked on XenServer's site Nov 8, 2026

3 alternatives with a free option

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About XenServer

XenServer is a bare-metal hypervisor for running virtual machines on your own servers. It is built on the Xen Project hypervisor and was called Citrix Hypervisor for several years before going back to its original name. Hosts are grouped into resource pools and managed from XenCenter, a Windows desktop app, or from the command line, with live VM migration, live patching, scheduled snapshots, workload balancing and a conversion tool for moving VMs off VMware vSphere. It is tuned for Citrix virtual desktop and app workloads but runs ordinary Windows and Linux servers too. Licensing is term-based and counted per CPU socket, and the paid Premium Edition currently comes only as an entitlement of a Citrix subscription, so it mainly suits organisations already buying from Citrix. Anyone can download the installer and run the Trial Edition, which covers nearly all features but is time-limited, capped at three hosts per pool and comes without official support. XCP-ng is the community-built open-source sibling based on the same code.

Best for: Citrix shops that want a supported hypervisor tuned for virtual desktops and apps.

XenServer pricing (checked Nov 8, 2026)

Each line is quoted from XenServer's own site, with the page it came from.

Plan or termWhat it saysCheckedSource
Free trial90 days, up to 3 hostsNov 8, 2026xenserver.com

Pros and cons

What works

  • Tuned for Citrix virtual desktop and app workloads
  • Live migration, live patching and rolling pool upgrades
  • Built-in tool to convert VMs from VMware vSphere
  • Free trial edition with almost all features

Why people leave

  • Paid licences only come bundled with a Citrix subscription
  • XenCenter management app runs only on Windows
  • Trial is limited to 3 hosts per pool and has no support

XenServer vs XCP-ng, Proxmox VE and Microsoft Hyper-V

From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.

AttributeXenServerXCP-ngProxmox VEMicrosoft Hyper-V
PricingPaidOpen sourceOpen sourcePaid
Verified price——€120/year per CPU socket—
Free planNoFree appFree appNo
Open sourceNoYesYesNo
Self-hostableYesYesYesNo
PlatformsSelf-hosted, WindowsSelf-hostedSelf-hosted, WebWindows

Top XenServer alternatives

See all 5
  1. 1Xc
    XCP-ng

    Open-source fork of the same Xen-based stack, free to use with optional paid support and no Citrix tie-in.

    68.8
  2. 2Proxmox VE logo
    Proxmox VE

    Free open-source platform with KVM VMs, containers and a web UI, popular for leaving paid hypervisors.

    64.8
  3. 3Microsoft Hyper-V logo
    Microsoft Hyper-V

    Included with Windows Server, a natural pick for Microsoft-centred datacentres.

    61.8
  4. 4Nutanix Cloud Platform logo
    Nutanix Cloud Platform

    Hyperconverged platform with its own AHV hypervisor, also a supported host for Citrix desktops.

    59.4
  5. 5OpenStack logo
    OpenStack

    Open-source cloud stack for teams that want self-service private cloud beyond a single hypervisor.

    57.5

Why people left XenServer

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

No switching stories yet. If you moved away from XenServer, review the app you switched to and tell us why.

Reviews

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XenServer: common questions

What is XenServer?

XenServer: Xen-based server virtualization platform, formerly Citrix Hypervisor, sold alongside Citrix subscriptions. Best for citrix shops that want a supported hypervisor tuned for virtual desktops and apps. Available for Windows, and you can host it yourself.

Is XenServer free?

No, XenServer is a paid product.

How much does XenServer cost?

XenServer is a paid product. Free trial: 90 days, up to 3 hosts. Checked on XenServer's own site, November 2026.

Does XenServer have a free trial or refund?

Free trial: 90 days, up to 3 hosts. Source: XenServer's own site.

Is XenServer open source?

No, XenServer is not open source. Open-source alternatives include XCP-ng, Proxmox VE and OpenStack.

What platforms does XenServer run on?

XenServer is available for Self-hosted and Windows.

What are the best alternatives to XenServer?

The highest-ranked XenServer alternatives right now are XCP-ng, Proxmox VE and Microsoft Hyper-V. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

XenServer vs XCP-ng: what's the difference?

XenServer is a paid product; XCP-ng is free and open source. XCP-ng is open source and XenServer is not. Only XenServer runs on Windows.

See all 5 XenServer alternatives